Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture
has denied rumors questioning the quality of watermelons sold in the nation’s markets. It issued a press release this week, explaining that the fruit complies with all safety standards and food sanitation. “All the tests carried out show a total absence of contaminants from this fruit,” including pesticide residues, heavy metals, and bacteria, the ministry said.
By June 20, Morocco had exported 218,000 tons of watermelons during this year’s agriculture campaign. The statistics come in response to the rumored decline in Moroccan fruit exports due to the quality of the country’s products.
The statement from the ministry came just a few months after Morocco’s National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSSA) dismissed similar claims about the quality of watermelons produced in Morocco. Watermelons are highly consumed in Morocco during the summer season, but the country also exports a sizable portion of its production. According to recent data compiled by Hortoinfo, Moroccan watermelons are outperforming Algeria’s products in European markets, including in France and the Netherlands.
Source: moroccoworldnews.com